Description
Object description
British NCO served as air gunner served with 219 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1940-1941 including Battle of Britain, 1940; officer served with 23 and 60 Sqdns, RAF in GB, 1941-1943
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Derby, 1917-1939: family; education; employment; reasons for joining Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 1939. Period of training with 141 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1939-1940: posting to unit at Grangemouth; completing air gunner training at Aldergrove; question of height restrictions in Boulton Paul Defiant turret. Recollections of operations as NCO air gunner with 219 Sqdn in GB, 1940-1941 including Battle of Britain: posting to squadron at Catterick; patrols of east coast from West Hartlepool; hours flown in Bristol Blenheims during Battle of Britain; tactics for avoiding contact with German fighters; promotion of leading aircraftmen to sergeants, 5/1940; move to Redhill and conversion to Bristol Beaufighters, 11/1940; problems with jamming cannons; character of night operations in London area; training as wireless operator/air gunner; shooting down of Heinkel 111 use AI equipment over Sussex.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations with 23 and 60 Sqdns, RAF in GB, 1941-1943: posting to unit at RNAS Ford, 7/2/1941; night intruder operations in Douglas Bostons; transmitting rules; threats encountered over northern France; obtaining commission and his gunnery course; posting to 605 Sqdn, RAF. Period with 275 and 278 Sqdns, RAF in GB, 1943-1945: air-sea rescue with 275 Sqdn, RAF from RAF Valley, from 2/1943; move to 278 Sqdn, RAF in Suffolk; role attached to US Air Force; V1 attacks; second hand story of Supermarine Walrus air-sea rescue incident. Attitude to having served with RAF during Second World War. Aspects of period as officer with 52 and 110 Sqdns, RAF in Malaya, 1948-1952: recall to RAF service due to aircrew shortages, 1947; his duties as loadmaster.
REEL 3 Continues: attitude to serving in Malaya; trips to Saigon and Hong Kong; arrangements for family including employment of amah; end of RAF service, 5/1955. Handling of AI equipment during Second World War. Story of his Bristol Blenheim was shot up by Polish fighter squadron during Battle of Britain.